Apparatus for transporting oil through pipe lines



Juli@ 2, 19.42. J. G. DYER ETAL 2,284,809

APPARATUS FOR TRANSPORTING' OILLTHROUGH PIPEv LINE I 4 Filed Oct'. 19, 1939 Sheets-Sheet 1 June 2, 1942.

J. G. DYER ETAL 2,284,809 APPARATUS PoR TRNSPORTING OIL THROUGH A PIPE LINE Filed oct. 19, 1959 2 ShetsSheet 2 ffy/27e l 1 l. tl'y. Z.

INVENTORS ATTOR EY ,a contact pumping unit which may `be readily 'Patented Jene 2,1942 Y 2,284,809

UNlTEo STATES PATENT oFFlcE APPARATUS Fon 'rnANsPomlNo on. THROUGH PIPE LINES Joseph G. Dyer and Archie C. Wilkinson, Ponca City, Okla., assignors to Continental Oil Uompany, Ponca City, Okla., a corporation of Delaware Application october 19,1939, sensi No. 300,206' s claims. (ci. 12s- 3) Our invention relates to a method and appal usually characterized by a` controlled volatility rratus for transporting oilthrough a pipe line. for initial boiling point and final boiling point.

In long'pipe lines for transporting oil-across d. Fuel oil, a topped crude with front end country, it is necessary to construct pump sta- Volatility Corrected. tions in isolated localities. This makes it diili- Obviously, the above fuels may be blended ii cult to secure fuel at reasonable costs. In the necessary, to meet Certain engine requirementseese of enoii pipe line, e portion of this oi1 can The method and apparatus of our invention is be used as fuel to furnish power for pumping. iiexible and may be used either in single or com- The ol1,however,is suon that it can be used only bination units to obtain these various types oi in heavy duty, slow speed Diesel engines which l0 fuelsare very expensive, costing from two to three Other and further objects 0f 12111 IWentiOn Win times as much as modern high speed Diesel appear from the following description. engines. The modern Diesel engine, however, In the. aCOOmPanying drawings which form cannot operate upon the-crude oil being pumped, part of the instant specification and are to be and requires a special Diesel fuel, Y i5 read in 'conjunction therewith and in which like certain installations utilize ges or gasoline enreference numerals are used to indicate like parts gincs as a prime mover for pumping. In this in the 19110115 VieWS l cose, as in the case of a modem high speed Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a section o! Diesel, it is necessary to heul or pipe the fuel a Crude oil pipeline pump station showing an required to the pumping station, frequently over 20 assembly embdyng One TUHH 0f 0111 ,invention long distancesand under adverse conditions, as and capable 0f Carrying'out the method of our weil as at high cost, invention, in which the prime mover is a Diesel One object of `our invention is to provide a angina method and apparatus for pumping crude Oil or Figure 2 S a diagrammatic View 0f another em' I petroleum in which a portion'of the crude oil 25 bodiment of our invention showing the arrange beingpumped is bled from the pipe line and conment m which the primemover is a' gasoline or vertedinto a fuel for the prime mover. gas engine' i Another object of our invention is to provide More partlculay referrmg now to Flgure l a a method of obtaining a usable fuel fraction from booster pumpk' is m'tofrpofsed na pip? me ngisis the crude oil being pumped by lmeans of utilizing 30 agaptedto ta gwn la rofnhgam um? Th only the heat in the exhaustion of the internal c argeis aollgated ca Disel e me wr'ch is combustion engine, or by utilizing in combination d el throng) pipe 5 Frgr this example Wtltg ngletxhaustbhet addfitionalrtat gn; it will be assumed that the preferred-fuel for this gif beg; punpecgm s on o a p0 n o' 35 particular Diesel engiie isuoi a volatility between Another object of our invention is to provide 'lmeviis lsgozsegft; 125 F. initial boiling point and 15% lto 25% of material boiling above 600 F: A bieeder pipe 8, controlled by a pressure reducing valve 1', is adapted to bleed a portion of the oil being pumped through a heat exchanger 1, for pasinstalled at an isolated pumping station and under some conditions it is an object to provide 40 a compact andportable or transferable pump ing unit. a

Still another object of `our invention isto provide a method'and apparatus for obtaining difcondenser H. pipe n, pipe n, paso,- 1108.1,` oonferent types 0f fue! flfiiCtOIi-ir fIOm Crude Oil 0r 45 trolled valve Il, into a. still I5, The heat expetrolellm being Dumped The types ale change. requirements may be such that a'greater a. Gaseous; involving separation 0i these hyquantity of oil than can be employed in the drocarbons that are' gaseous at usual temperastill l5 must be bled.. In such oase, a, portion tures (atmospheric or otherwise) from those hyof the bled oil passes through pipe I6 controlled droearbons in the crude that' are not gaseous. c by valve I1, pipe I8, and pipe I9, into the branch b. Gasoline; involving the separation of the 2 of the 'main pipo line which is-connected to the hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline from the suction side of the pump-I. The amount of oil high boiling hydrocarbons., The gaseous hydro- -passing back to the pipeline and passing through carbons may or may not be removed. pipe I3 can be controlled by adjustment of valves c. Diesel; involving different types of fuel but 55 I1 and 20. The oil thus. preheated is subjected sage .through pipe 8, heat exchanger 9, pipe I0,

through pipe 22 and are controlled by a valve 23 which is adapted to by-pass a portion of the exhaust gases through pipe 24 to the atmosphere and deliver a portion of the exhaust gases through pipe 25 to the heat exchange tubes within the heater 2|, from which the exhaust gase'sff A if. column 21 forms part of the still. This co1umn.

escape through pipe 26 to the atmosphere.

accumulator 51. The valve 48 which controls the fuel to the surnomme ccntroued ,by the l; temperatures of the vapors leavling tiwA still through pipe 55 by means of a temperature controller 56 which acts through pipe 59 to control valve 48. The arrangement is such` that, if the temperature of the vaporsleaving the column 54 is too high, the valve 48 will tend to close, reducing the fuel supplyto the `burner 49. If the temperature of the vapors leavingthe column 54 is toolow, th'en the temperature controlley operates to open valve 48. Normally, in

may be filledwith the usual fractionating trays.`

or may be packed, if desired. The pressure within the still is controlled by a back pressure valve 28 connected to a pipe 29, venting to the atmosphere. 'I'he vapors leave the column 21 through a pipe 30 andy pass into condenser II,4

for condensation. The condensate is withdrawn from theI condenser through pipe 3|. A temi perature controlled device 32 acting by fluid pressure through pipe 33 is adapted to control valve 23. it will be understood by those skilled in the art,

. may be made to control a valve in line I3 governing the amount of crude going into the heater y2| and carrying a constant heat without the use of valve 23. In this case, valve I4 would be used in line 60 and valve 23 would be omitted.

If the temperature of the vapors passing over,- headthrough pipe is too high, the temperature control device operates to move valve 23 so that a greater proportion of the exhaust gases will be vented through pipe 24 to the atmosphere. If the temperature of the vapors passing overhead is too` low, temperature control 'device 32 operates to pass a greater proportion of the hot exhaust gases through pipe 25 and thence through the heater 2|.

'Ihese light hydrocarbons are chiefly within the gasoline boiling range and are condensed in condenser II.

line. This is accomplished by closing valve 34 and opening valvek 35, permitting the condensate comprising Ihydrocarbons boiling below 400 F. to pass through pipe 36 and thence into pipes I 6 v and I9 for return to the pipe line branch 2. If

desired, valve may be wholly closed and a portion of the gasolinelike hydrocarbons withdrawn from the pipe 31 through pipe 36 by opening valve 39. A portion of the gasolinelike 4hydrocarbons will always pass through pipe 31 in 'from through pipe 52, past float controlled valve The temperature controlled device 32,

Normally, when obtaining fuel for a Diesel engine, they are. returned to the pipe 53 into a second he'ater'pandI still 50.' The still is provided with' a column 54 through which vapors distilled from the liquid oil are adapted to pass. The vapors are withdrawn from the col-l umn y.6,4- through. pipe `|55ffor passage through a condenser 9. The condensate leaves the condenser 9 throughl pipe y.5.6 and 4passes into an 7 5 the example given above, where the desired boiling range of the high speed Diesel fuel is between 400 F. and 600 F. the temperatures of the vapors leaving pipe 55 will be in the vicinity of 600 F. The unvaporized liquid will leave the still or may be pumped through pipe for passage through heat exchanger 1 and pipe 6|, past valve'62 to the suction side of the pump I. lf the quantity of Diesel fuel made is too high, valve 63 may be opened to permit a portion of the Diesel fuel to pass through pipe 64 into pipe I9 for-return to the oil being pumped.

It is believed that the operation of the embodiment shown in Figure l will be clear from the foregoing description. The light hydrocarbons are removed from the oil being pumped by means of heat supplied from the engine exhaust. An intermediate fraction of hydrocarbons is then distilled from the reduced-crude and this fraction used as the Diesel fuel, the heavier fractions of the oil and, if desired, lighter fractions being returned to the oil being pumped.

As an example of the savings effected by ourl invention in a pumping assembly embodying` our= vantage in the cost of transportlngo'ilv by pipe lines.

Referring now to Figure 2, we have shown another embodiment of our invention in which the engine 10 is a gas or gasoline engine. The pipe line pump I is adapted to take suction through Lbranch 2 of the vpipe line and deliver the oil being pumped to branch 3 of the pipe line. Valve 1I controls the bleeding of oil from the discharge branch 3 into a pipe 12 from which the bled oil passes through a condenser 13 in heat. They exchange with the hot gasoline vapors. condenser may be by-passed as shown in Figure 2 in case gas is being used as fuel for theengirle instead of gasoline. In this case, a'separate cool.

ing means for the condenser would be usedas readily understood by those skilledinthe artgand gas formed by cracking would be removed from` the accumulator 9| to supply'thgengine.; The preheated oil leaves the condenserandff passes through pipe 15 controlled by valve 16', past float controlled valve 11 into a still 'I8 in which the oil issubjected to distillation by heatfurnished from the exhaust gases of the' internal combustion engine 10. The gases vare withdrawn from theengine through pipe 19,' the outlet, 'of which is controlled by a temperature controlled valve 60 to divide the exhaust' gases between exhaust pipe 6Iy and pipe 82, leading'tol a vheat exchanger' By means of our invention we werev 03 from which thegases are discharged through .pipe 04 tothe atmosphere.

A temperature controlled device acting by fluid pressure through pipe 00 operates control arm 81 of the valve 00L The still 10 is fitted with a column 88 which may be aV fractionating col` umn, if desired. The vapors which aredistilled off from the hydrocarbon oil charged to the still are withdrawn from the column 00 through pipe 89. The temperature controller is such that the vapors passing overhead will b e at the desired temperature for the boiling range of the lfuel to be used in the internal combustion engine 1.

`The vapors are condensed in condenser 13 by heat exchange with the incoming crude and the condensate and incondensable gases withdrawn from the condenser through pipe 90 for passage into an accumulator 9|, controlled by valve 03. A portion-of the gases may, if desired, pass through pipe 94 controlledby valve 95, through a back pressure controlled valve 90, through pipe 01. through heat exchanger 90 for use in the internal combustion engine as a portion of the fuel. The liquid gasoline fractions are withdrawn from the accumulator through pipe 99 and pass through pipe |00 controlled by valve |0| to the carburetor of the internal combustion engine 10. Since it may be necessary to circulate a greater quantity of oil than can be subjected to distillation we providepipe |02 controlled by valve |03'` so that a portion of the oil passing in heat exchange with the hot vapors in condenser 13 may pass through pipes |02 and |03 into thev suction side of the pump I for. commingling with the oil being transported.

and satisfactorily produce various types of fuels as required.

The character oi crude oil being pumped from various crude oil producing fields will vary over` wide limits, and in view of this the method and Vapparatus of our invention must bevaried, de-

pending again upon the type of prime mover, to produce a satisfactory fuel. Some crude oil will not contain` any so-called gaseous hydrocarbons, while other crudes may be devoid, or substantially devoid of gaseous hydrocarbons and hydrocarbons boiling in the gasoline boiling range. In these instances it would be obvious that a Diesel type prime mover would be used and a fuel for such would be made along the line of the example given in connection with the discussion of Figure l.

For different prime movers we may produce the various types of fuels.. Forv example:

l. A gaseous fuel consisting of methane, ethane, propane, and butane. f

2. A gaseous type fuel including the hydrocarbons mentioned in l and in addition some of the pentanes', hexanes, and heptanes, or in fact the If the crude oil contains a greater quantity of gasoline-'like fractions than can be used in y the internal combustion engine, valve |04 may be opened, permitting a portion of the gasoline-like hydrocarbons to return to the pipe line through pipe |05 and pipe |03. The unvaporized oil comprising the heavier fractions thereof,.is withdrawn from the still through pipe |00 controlled by valve |01, for passage throughpipe |00 to the suction side of the pump.

From Figures 1 and 2 and-the examples given to show how the method and apparatus may be employed to produce a Diesel fuel of assumed characteristics and a gasoline fuel. it is obvious, without additional drawings, how a strictly gaseous fuel may be made for a gas engine. For this purpose the equipment and method `outlined in connection with description of Figure 2 would be employed. In this event a lower heat would be maintained on still 10 and the high boiling undesirable hydrocarbons not vaporized through fractionator 8B. As in theproducti'on of Diesel fuel and gasoline fuel the method and apparatus of our invention may be varied over reasonably wide limits, as required depending upon the crudeV being pumped and the specifications of the fuel the fuel.

required with the various types of prime movers,A

^ to give a fuel satisfactory for use.

another heating line from the engine exhaust will be used for heating heater Il.

fraction of hydrocarbons included in the lower boiling portion of gasoline. Itmay be necessary to heat such fuel for vaporization prior to delivering it to the prime mover bust such is not an objectionable feature. This fuel may' have a boiling point .starting with the boiling point of methaneand having a maximum boiling point of 150 F. to 200 F.

3. A gasoline type fuel may be of varying volatility specification; for example F. to 150 F. initial boiling point up to Ii350 to 500 F. final boiling point.

4. Diesel type fuels of the following volatility specifications are contemplated in our invention. (a) 100 F. initial boiling 600 to 700 F. end boiling point.

(b) 200 F. initialboiling point to 600 F. to

'100 F. end boiling point.`

` (c) 300 initial boiling point to 600 F. to 700' F. end boiling point.

(d) 400 initial boiling point to 600 F. to .700 F. initial boiling point. v

(e) .400 F. initial boiling point residual fuel that would have an end boiling point similar to that of the crude from which it was derived.

but of a higher initial boiling character, such as 500 F. to 000` F. or a little higher. l

It -is understood that each type of fuel may be passed through a caustic scrubber or other type of scrubber to remove corrosive materials from For example, hydrogen sulfide, low molecular weight mercaptans, hydrogen chloride etc. may be removed if required by any of the well known methods.

In Figure 1 a supplementary burner 40 is lshown for heating still .00. It is obvious that if sufficient heat is feasibly available from the exhaust of the engine or if the character'of the crude .being pumped is such that lsupplementary heat is not required to obtain the desired fuel,

Figure 2 shows a pressure unit throughout but it is understood that pump pressure on line 3 may be immediately reduced to atmospheric or;

substantially atmospheric inline 12. Our invention is in no way limited to pressure or lack of pressure on ourequipment.

Various control and operating instruments are indicated in 'the drawingsy and descriptions but '(f) Residual type fuels similar to (e) above these are given by way of example only and any equivalent or better equipment either similar or dissimilarmaybe employed.

It will be seen that we have 'accomplished the objects ot ,our invention. We have provided an installation-for'pumping oil inpipe lines and a method of operating pipe lines inwhich we are` enabled to utilize modern, eflicient. low cost,

for operating the pump. We are enabled to furnish fuel .to the prime mover by extracting it from the oil being pumped, in a. convenient and expeditious manner. vOur units are simple in operation and rather inexpensive of installation, are compact. light in weight and are readily portable. The use of our method and apparatus enables us'to operate a pipe line in amore expeditious and economical manner. v

It will be understood that certain features and sub-combinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub-combinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of our claims.v It is further obvious that various changes may be made indetails within the scope of our claims withoutdeparting from the spirit of our invention. It is, therefore, to be understood that our invention is not to be limited to the specic details shown and described.

internal combustion engines, esprime ,movers Having thus described our invention, we claim:

ond still, means for removing vapors from said second still, ineans for passing unvaporized oil from said second still to said pipe line, al irst condenserf'for condensing vapors from said` nrst still, means for passing condensate from said first burning uncondensed gases from said nrst, condenser in one of said still heaters, means for passing exhaust gases from the internal combustion engine through the other of `said vstill heat'-y ers, a second condenser, means for passing vapors from said second still to said second condenser and means toepassing the condensate from said second condenserto said internal combustion engine, as fuel. n

2. An oil distilling apparatus for supplying an intermediate traction of a hydrocarbon oil to an internal combustion engine having a fuel inlet and an exhaust outlet for combustion gases comprising a source oi' crude 4oil supply, a first still,

a second still, means for conducting crude oil from the source to said ilrst still, means for conducting the exhaust gases of the engine to the said first .still for heating the contents thereof :to a predetermined temperature, means including a burner for heating the contents of said second still to a predetermined temperature,`

means for condensing the vapors from the rst still and for conducting the uncondensed" gases to the said heater whereby the uncondensed gases of the rst still will constitute a. source of fuel supply for the burner ofthe second stili, means for passing unvaporized oil from the first still to the second still, and means for condensing vapors from the second still and for supplying condenser back to said pipe line, means for the condensate to the said fuel inlet of the engine.

3. An oil distilling apparatus for supplying an intermediate fraction ot a hydrocarbon oil to an internal combustion engine having a fuel inlet comprising a source oi crude oil supply, a first still, a second still, heatersy for the said stills,v

means for conducting crude oil from the source of supply to the said rst still, means for condensing vapors from the first still and for supplying the uncondensed gases of the vapors to at least one of the said heaters, means for passing unvaporized oil from the first still to the second still, and means for condensing vapors from the second still and for conducting the condensate to the said fuel inlet of the engine.

JOSEPH G. DYER. ARCHIE C. WILKINSON. 

